Different Bilevel Settings, Different Situations: Example

On this Blog Post, is an Example of the results using my actual sleep data and SleepyHead reports when using the bilevel auto adjusting pressure machine. The machine is being used with different bilevel pressure settings in three different situations as follows:

1.       Normal day;
2.       Eating and drinking late at night; and
3.       Hard day at work and/ or many hours of driving.

Each situation requires different settings on the machine so as to wake up feeling refreshed and energized each day. More details are at Use Different CPAP and Bilevel Pressure Settings. You may have other circumstances which another situation may arise. This is a great improvement on when I first started on sleep apnea therapy where I was very tired and feeling lousy on a regular basis. I was once in the same situation as you and many other people have found or are now finding themselves in. Should you be having some “bad” days or are having the feeling of “is this as good as it gets”, CHANGE what you are doing.

Your pressure needs may change on a daily basis and will depend on many factors. Such factors may include sleep hygiene and lifestyle factors such as exercising daily and eating food late at night and medication and other health conditions that you may have. Should you be doing similar activities each day, having the one set of pressure settings on your sleep apnea machine may be all that you require for optimal treatment. The machine that you are using may only require a little adjustment to optimize your sleep. 

Whilst I am dealing with different situations, from the Example (below), note the following:

- Minimum Pressure used is between 9.2 cmH2O and 9.8 cmH2O depending on the situation, even though my maximum pressure may go to 17 cmH2O during the night; and

- Minimum Pressure is changed by using different Pressure Support of between 5.0 cmH2O and 5.6 cmH2O depending on the situation.

Further details are provided in the Notes attached to the Example. In addition, an example is provided of how I use the bilevel machine in a typical week at the blog post Athletes need Maximum Performance: Use Bilevel. Observe what I have done and apply the principles to your own situation.

Even though I am using different pressure settings for different situations, also note the following: 

- Minimum EPAP (exhale pressure) is the same at 4.2 cmH2O;

- Minute Ventilation (MV) being the total volume of air entering the lungs in a minute is 6 litres/ minute or lower. Further information is at: https://www.normalbreathing.org/.        

- The two components of Minute Ventilation being Respiratory Rate (breaths/ minute) and Tidal Volume have similar numbers. For median Tidal Volume of 400 ml, I found the optimal setting was to use Ideal Body Weight not actual body weight. For more details refer to the blog post Use Ideal Body Weight on CPAP and Bilevel.

By using Pressure Support of 5.4cmH2O in the Normal situation, I have substantially reduced the median/ average IPAP and EPAP (inhale and exhale pressure) by 22.1% and Minute Ventilation by 13.1% when compared to using a CPAP machine. Refer to the blog page CPAP Vs Bilevel Settings Example.  

More importantly, by using a bilevel auto adjusting pressure machine I have overcome the many CPAP side effects and issues.

The Example using my actual sleep data and SleepyHead reports are below.

You have only one opportunity at life. Make the most of each and every day, free from pain and suffering. 

Should you be having issues with your sleep apnea therapy; CHANGE what you are doing so that you can wake up feeling refreshed and energized each day.

“Have courage. Be adventurous and Go for it! Overcome your fear.”

- Mrhelpful